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I had thought of upgrading my 2015 steering wheel to the flat-bottom wheel, and my friend who is a designer for GM reminded me: "Ummmm....you do realize that even the Chevy Sonic has this now".
Sorry, but lost it's coolness factor after hearing that!!
Kinda like how now even base model $12k cars now all have LED running lamps after the Audi R8 started the trend.
While at the Chevy dealer today I observed a 2016 Camaro SS with a flat bottom steering wheel and rear tail lights that look similar to the C-7 tail lights? They are still using Goodyears.
I had thought of upgrading my 2015 steering wheel to the flat-bottom wheel, and my friend who is a designer for GM reminded me: "Ummmm....you do realize that even the Chevy Sonic has this now".
Sorry, but lost it's coolness factor after hearing that!!
Kinda like how now even base model $12k cars now all have LED running lamps after the Audi R8 started the trend.
Fairly sure that only comes in the new 'sporty' versions, and the first picture is a $55,000+ Chevy SS(which uses a different steering wheel) not a Camaro or a Sonic while the 2nd picture is one of those new 'sporty in the same way a corolla S is sporty' Sonics.
Plus, I am pretty happy that the Camaro SS gets the same steering wheel now, the ones of the past have been so gross it would actually stop me from ever thinking about buying one(Not that I ever would but man those things were a big turn off).
Honestly, we should just be happy that the Corvette actually got a steering wheel designed for the Corvette and then they trickled it down the line instead of it getting a hand-me-down out of the parts bin from an economy car like it used to.
Last edited by The_Fake_Stig; 12-07-2015 at 11:13 AM.
When I decided to move from C6 to C7 I considered a 2016 to get the flat bottom wheel but after I sat in 2015 with out it and then 2016 with it the difference for me was not significant. They look cool and are nice to have but I saved thousands on the 2015 over new 2016 so went that direction.
Personally, I don't think a flat bottom steering wheel is so awesome looking.
I prefer a round steering wheel that is eccentric, as it provides the same functional aspects that a flat bottom steering wheel does. Eccentric steering wheels are used in many cars, and have been for quite a while. But then, the stylist can't claim it's better because it's "new". Styling is faddish, and the car companies have to have something "new" in order to entice you to dump your car buy their product, whether it is functionally any better than what's already on the market, or not.
Personally, I don't think a flat bottom steering wheel is so awesome looking.
I prefer a round steering wheel that is eccentric, as it provides the same functional aspects that a flat bottom steering wheel does. Eccentric steering wheels are used in many cars, and have been for quite a while. But then, the stylist can't claim it's better because it's "new". Styling is faddish, and the car companies have to have something "new" in order to entice you to dump your car buy their product, whether it is functionally any better than what's already on the market, or not.
The vast majority of the appeal of the Corvette is stylish! Nobody'ed be buying 'em if they look like AMC Pacers!
I actually own a Caravaggio flat bottom wheel and while I do love it for street driving, I feel it's a detriment on the road course or emergency car control situations. It barely helps with clearance for ingress/egress (plus the upper memory packages have the option to move the seat and steering column to help with that). It also only provides maybe an inch more clearance while driving straight.
The problem on a road coarse, or even while doing any turning on the street, pops up as soon as you have to turn and the round part of wheel rotates into your leg. It gets even worse if you have make sharp turns (parking lot or road course) and have to take your hands off the original 9-3 positions. With a 16:1 steering rack, it happens quite often in autocrossing and increases the chance you can actually "miss" the wheel when trying to grab it, especially while shuffle steering.
So although it looks "slightly" cooler and gives "slightly" more leg room, it introduces a potential safety issue for racing and emergency maneuvering when dodging road debris or avoiding that guy trying to trade paint with you. All that being said, I won't be taking my flat bottom wheel off, but I try to be extra careful when moving my hands around on it in "performance situations".
I actually own a Caravaggio flat bottom wheel and while I do love it for street driving, I feel it's a detriment on the road course or emergency car control situations. It barely helps with clearance for ingress/egress (plus the upper memory packages have the option to move the seat and steering column to help with that). It also only provides maybe an inch more clearance while driving straight.
The problem on a road coarse, or even while doing any turning on the street, pops up as soon as you have to turn and the round part of wheel rotates into your leg. It gets even worse if you have make sharp turns (parking lot or road course) and have to take your hands off the original 9-3 positions. With a 16:1 steering rack, it happens quite often in autocrossing and increases the chance you can actually "miss" the wheel when trying to grab it, especially while shuffle steering.
So although it looks "slightly" cooler and gives "slightly" more leg room, it introduces a potential safety issue for racing and emergency maneuvering when dodging road debris or avoiding that guy trying to trade paint with you. All that being said, I won't be taking my flat bottom wheel off, but I try to be extra careful when moving my hands around on it in "performance situations".
Notice that the NASCAR Cup teams aren't worried about interior styling but functionality with their round steering wheels. If they thought if would help just .00001%, they would spend thousands implementing it.
12-03-2015, 07:07 PM
or the cameras
Feels much better to me.
